Hurricane Gulch Bridge

Hurricane Gulch Bridge
Coordinates 63°0′54″N 149°37′0″W / 63.01500°N 149.61667°W / 63.01500; -149.61667Coordinates: 63°0′54″N 149°37′0″W / 63.01500°N 149.61667°W / 63.01500; -149.61667
Carries Alaska Railroad
Crosses Hurricane Gulch (tributary of Chulitna River)
Locale Hurricane Gulch
Maintained by Alaska Railroad
Characteristics
Design Arch
Width 8 ft (2.4 m), 1 track with a walkway on one side
Longest span 918 ft (279.8 m)
Clearance above Deck arch, unlimited clearance
Clearance below 296 ft (90 m)
History
Opened August 15, 1921
Shadow of the Hurricane Gulch bridge taken from a train crossing over it

Not to be confused with the road bridge of the same name.

The Hurricane Gulch Bridge is a 918 ft (280 m) long steel arch railroad bridge that crosses Hurricane Gulch, Alaska. It is located at milepost 284.2, counting from Seward. At 296 ft above the Hurricane creek, it is both the longest and tallest bridge on the entire Alaska Railroad. Many of Alaska Railroad's passenger routes pass over this bridge including the Denali star, the Aurora winter and the flag-stop Hurricane Turn, in addition to freight routes.[1][2]

Construction

Construction of this bridge by the American Bridge Company began in early 1921. The first steel was erected in June, and the first passenger train operated on August 15 of the same year. It was the most difficult and expensive bridge project on the railroad, and cost $1.2 million. To build it, the company strung an aerial tram across the gulch, and construction proceeded from both sides simultaneously.[3] For eight years, this was the tallest bridge in the US.

Panorama of Hurricane Gulch taken from the bridge

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Route Map". Alaska Railroad. Alaska Railroad. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  2. ↑ "Freight Routes". Alaska Railroad. Alaska Railroad. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  3. ↑ Combs, John. "Route Map: Hurricane Gulch". John's Alaska Railroad Page. Retrieved 14 March 2017.


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